Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education salary in Illinois
Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education in Illinois earn a median of $79,990 a year, based on BLS data for 44,670 workers.
Pay ranges from $49,020 for the lowest-paid 10% to $135,960 for the top 10%. That is 11% higher than the national median of $72,040. Illinois ranks 9th of 51 states for secondary school teachers, except special and Career/Technical education pay. There are 7.3 secondary school teachers, except special and Career/Technical education per 1,000 jobs here — close to the national average. The average (mean) salary is $89,320, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for secondary school teachers, except special and Career/Technical education in Illinois
| Pay level | Yearly |
|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $49,020 |
| 25th percentile | $62,330 |
| Median | $79,990 |
| 75th percentile | $104,670 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $135,960 |
| Average (mean) | $89,320 |
Half of secondary school teachers, except special and Career/Technical education earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $6,665.83 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $3,332.92 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $3,076.54 |
| Weekly | $1,538.27 |
BLS publishes only yearly pay for this job, because secondary school teachers, except special and Career/Technical education are usually paid a salary and may not work a full 2,080-hour year. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $79,990 salary, see how much house you can afford in Illinois at today's mortgage rates, or work out a payment with the mortgage calculator.
Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education salary in cities in Illinois
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | $98,970 | 32,790 |
| Rockford, IL | $78,500 | 880 |
| Springfield, IL | $72,510 | 750 |
| Bloomington, IL | $66,280 | 530 |
| St. Louis, MO-IL | $62,130 | 9,870 |
| Decatur, IL | $62,000 | 310 |
| Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL | $61,960 | 1,170 |
| Peoria, IL | $61,620 | 1,230 |
| Paducah, KY-IL | $61,540 | 250 |
| Champaign-Urbana, IL | $61,480 | 660 |
| Cape Girardeau, MO-IL | $48,570 | 290 |
| Kankakee, IL | $48,500 | 420 |
Highest-paying states for secondary school teachers, except special and Career/Technical education
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| Washington | $102,670 |
| California | $101,370 |
| New York | $97,070 |
| Massachusetts | $95,260 |
| Rhode Island | $92,610 |
| District of Columbia | $82,750 |
| New Jersey | $82,200 |
| Connecticut | $80,970 |
| Illinois | $79,990 |
| Alaska | $79,650 |
See Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education pay in every state.
Related jobs in Illinois
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Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 25-2031. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a secondary school teachers, except special and Career/Technical education make in Illinois?
The median salary for secondary school teachers, except special and Career/Technical education in Illinois is $79,990 a year. Pay ranges from $49,020 for the lowest-paid 10% to $135,960 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid secondary school teachers, except special and Career/Technical education make in Illinois?
The top 10% of secondary school teachers, except special and Career/Technical education in Illinois earn at least $135,960 a year. The top 25% earn $104,670 or more.
What is the starting pay for secondary school teachers, except special and Career/Technical education in Illinois?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $49,020 a year, and a quarter of secondary school teachers, except special and Career/Technical education earn $62,330 or less.
How many secondary school teachers, except special and Career/Technical education work in Illinois?
About 44,670 secondary school teachers, except special and Career/Technical education are employed in Illinois, not counting the self-employed.